Kr6er's right. That's a great deal! You have to think about how much it does cost to staff the wall, build the wall, keep the wall clean... But look at it this way: You can meet some hot CLIMBERS at a gym with a climbing wall, where as at a normal gym you'll just meet hot people.

$200 is a decent rate but even at what I pay (around $400 cdn.) its still a decent deal. Tons cheaper than a health club and less hassle. No manditor fitness test (I know where I'm fat and know what to do to get rid of it), no manditory time with a personal trainer, no hidden extra fees. And heck at a health club I feel like a hamster I can never get into the whole atmosphear.

Health clubs around here always offer deals... but once you look into them there are so many extra fees that it ends up not being worth it. Your better off at climbing gym or a YMCA where you know what your getting.

Well, my entry may not be compatible with the costs of your types of gyms. The 'gym' that I call local, is the Laurentien University Bouldering Room. It's just basically a small room with a bunch of overhanging routes and all different shapes and sizes of holds. Therefore, since it is not a complete 'gym', the costs are not complete either.

For a life-time membership, it costs $15 (you need a membership to even climb there: wierd I know, but that's the way it is ). And then, after paying a membership fee, it's $3.50 for use after that. (Sometimes, depending on the University student behind the desk; they might not even charge you once you have a membership).

I pay $50/month for access to 3 gyms in about a 40-50 mile radius. Granted even if you only use one gym ever it is still $50 but the variation between the 3 is pretty nice. For those of you in MD, DC and VA I am talking about Sportrock. And rumor has it that SRI is being moved/rebuilt this year.